Thursday, March 10, 2011

Press Release from ISNA

Source: ISNA

(Plainfield, IN March 10, 2011) This morning at 9:30 AM, Rep. Peter King, Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, called the first six witnesses in the Congressional Hearings: "The Extent of Radicalization in the American Muslim Community and That Community's Response."The witness list can be found online.

"While we share the Committee's commitment to ensuring the security of our nation, we strongly believe that there is a better way to ensure our national security than singling out one faith community.The hearing as it is currently structured proposes holding a public scrutiny of one specific community on the basis of religion; such institutionalized generalizations have not been seen since the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II.

We will continue to do our part to prevent terrorism, and we ask that the Committee on Homeland Security continue to do its part as well.Rather than emphasizing our differences, our safety as a nation would be better enhanced if the Committee instead united us, so that all the diverse communities of America can work together for our nation's security," said ISNA in written testimony to the hearings.

In preparation for these hearings, and the discriminatory nature of their approach, ISNA organized with national interfaith leaders and members of the ISNA "Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign: Standing with American Muslims to Uphold American Values," to publicly denounce their format and scope.

Today, at 1PM,ISNA President Imam Mohamed Magid was joined by ISNA leadership and representatives from 23 national religious organizations (members of the "Shoulder to Shoulder" campaign) to hold a Press Conference at the Cannon Building in Washington DC, where a joint statement, entitled, "Religious Leaders Stand Shoulder-to-Shoulder Against Extremism of All Kinds in Support of American Values" was shared with the community.

The religious leaders today made it clear that there is a better way to unite and secure our nation than by marginalizing an entire religious group in America based on the actions of a few.An excerpt from today's statement is found below, with the full statement found online by clicking here.

As the House Committee on Homeland Security convenes hearings on the putative "radicalization" of American Muslims, our obligation takes on renewed urgency...All of our faith communities share a powerful prohibition against bearing false witness, with the understanding that destroying a person's reputation is tantamount to destroying his or her life. To assert that Muslims as a broad group are not deeply devoted to America's safety and the peaceful interaction of its entire citizenry - that is false witness. By subjecting American Muslims to such scrutiny, we weaken our more perfect union, and we harm the national vision of our common good that is a witness to the nations.We encourage all citizens of this country to honor freedoms guaranteed by our Constitution that enable the free exercise of religion across our great land.

In addition to the press conference, members of ISNA's "Shoulder to Shoulder" campaign will meet with representarives of Congress and the White House throughout the day to introduce them to the campaign and express their direct concerns with the format of the King hearings.

As a Pluralist and an American Muslim, I am pleased to share diverse opinions on the subject on this blog. I am a volunteer and with limited time so don't count on every article, if you know a good piece and is not posted here, then please share it by post the link in the comments section to be included as one of the postings. No rantings please!

We are concerned about the hearings and hope and pray that Mr. King would be honest, sincere and fair, although his record is marred with bigotry. We hope he will not destroy the fabric of our society and pit one American against the other. If he does, the American people will not put up with it, as they have done that time and again. I trust our system and our people who have stood up against Vietnam War, Iraq war and supported abortion and civil rights and one of these days rights for GLBT and every American.

I welcome the hearings, Muslims have nothing to fear and nothing to worry, let the man fall flat on his face “if” he resorts to untruths. What if he turns out to be honest and finds guys like Shehzad? Then we owe him a gratitude, not just Muslims but the whole nation.

Please watch the serious as well as the humorous videos, I paritcularly challenge the right wingers to watch, there is a word out there that you guys are unhumorous and do not want to hear another point of view. Prove them wrong and welcome to a world of co-existence, together as Americans, let's create civil society where no American is fearful of the other. That's my dream - Mike Ghouse

AMERICANS TOGETHER

We are pleased to announce the launch of America Together foundation, committed to building a cohesive America.

The organization will focus on bringing Americans together with a series of educational programs to address the critical issues facing our nation in an open forum to find pluralistic solutions to restore the cohesiveness of our society and work towards building a safe and secure America. No American has to live in anxieties, discomfort or fear of the other.

We are in the stage of forming bylaws and setting up the charter to open its presence in every city in America. If you have an interest, please check the site and related sites and call me to be a part of the organization.